Bowerbirds

Societies sometimes sing their best songs for centuries. Consider that antediluvian American lament "Goodbye, Old Paint," or the worn murder ballads of the Appalachians, which still send shivers down spines and inspire new renditions, variations and song cycles. Ancient as they may be, these tunes still resonate emotionally, echoing some feeling each of us has likely felt.

The best songs of North Carolina's Bowerbirds have always seemed equally eternal. Coruscated by Beth Tacular's bird song and Phil Moore's environmentalist empathy, "In Our Talons" was, at its core, a quest for solidarity in a world of closing shadows. "Northern Lights" painted a pained portrait of love shrouded in doubt as perfectly as Cash, Dylan or Cohen ever have. These felt like more than songs; they felt like treasures.

But those recordings were made on the quick and the cheap, with nylon-stringed guitars, fiddle lines and drum patterns that became comfortable. You could imagine these songs as old stateside standards, because, really, that's how they sounded--campfire anthems sung by a couple clinging to very deep love.

The Clearing is the third album by the Bowerbirds, and as is often the case for bands that have found steady success, they had more time and better resources to make it. This is a bigger record, then, with bolder sounds and a broader scope. "Tuck The Darkness In" surges in its final two minutes with a wall of electric guitars and drums. "Hush" plays hide and seek with restless vibraphones, pianos and drums, Beth's voice again providing a core of resilience in an otherwise ominous atmosphere.

Thing is, these songs don't cede to the increased production demands. The guitars and strings, codas and bridges simply make these thoughts more urgent, more vital and more necessary, but not one bit less permanent. Though "Walk the Furrows" is more complicated than anything the Bowerbirds have ever recorded, the kernel of the song--a new creed for retrenched domesticity in a world flooded with temptation and distraction--feels like bedrock.

The Clearing is more than a third record for the Bowerbirds. Between 2009's Upper Air and this one, Beth nearly died after a mysterious illness that put her in the hospital. They rescued and adopted a dog that ran beneath their tour van's tires. Beth and Phil even ended their long relationship but began it again after realizing that, despite their own shortcomings, they didn't want to be with anyone else. Mostly, though, they returned to their cabin in the woods of North Carolina to nest--to make soup and walk dogs, to make art and write songs, to realize that this was their life and find contentment in it.

For the Bowerbirds, The Clearing represents the perfect realization of a fresh, timely outlook. Here, there's acceptance with ambition, patience with aspirations, understanding with intelligence. On The Clearing, Phil and Beth sing of the best and most important moments of their life and, in turn, create new ones. In this blistering world, these songs are the rarest sort of balm.

The Clearing was recorded with Brian Joseph in Wisconsin's treasured new studio, April Base, and with the help of some righteous microphones in a tiny, battered North Carolina cabin built by freed slaves during Reconstruction. The Clearing was mixed by Nicolas Vernhes in New York's Rare Book Room. The Clearing is available on Dead Oceans starting March 6, 2012--and, subsequently, forever. --Grayson Currin
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Playing to a sold-out crowd, the Bowerbirds took over the Bowery Ballroom last Friday. Luckily for all of us, NYC Taper was there to catch it all!

“…a set that was full of elegance and poise, as the band worked through a solid portion of The Clearing material, as well as several songs from 2009′s Upper Air. The live performances of these songs added additional depth not found on those records, as well as as surprising amount of energy. Several songs boasted reworked arrangements, guitar solos, and best of all, a few crowd sing-alongs. Moore thanked that crowd repeatedly throughout the night, and by set’s end, there was nobody left to win over. The show had been a success from start to finish.”

Bowerbirds’ third album, The Clearing, is out next Tuesday, March 6th. The 405 shares a lovely review with us, making clear the details and reasoning that led to the album’s creation. Giving the album an almost perfect rating, Colin Joyce says, “Though it’s pleasant at surface level, this is one that takes a bit of time to unravel. And when that unraveling occurs, listen by listen, it becomes clear that this is a record of such quality that isn’t come across on a daily basis.” You can STREAM THE ALBUM IN FULL EXCLUSIVELY AT STEREOGUM NOW. Pre-order HERE.

The fun doesn’t stop there! Bowerbirds will also have a Record Store Day 7-inch come April 21st. Featuring The Clearing‘s “In the Yard” and a b-side of “Always An Ear to Bend,” it’s a RSD exclusive. Check out participating record stores HERE.

After sharing album tracks, “Tuck the Darkness In,” and “In the Yard,” Bowerbirds are giving a further look into what their forthcoming album, The Clearing, is all about with this excellent, six-minute mini documentary about the making of the album. Produced by Creato Destructo, this video shows Bowerbirds in their natural element, talking about their life, the home they are building, their music and more.

Bowerbirds’ The Clearing is out March 6, but you can get a jump on things by pre-ordering is HERE. There are all kinds of fun bundles available, including some limited edition white vinyl. The band will be touring as a five-piece all over the country this spring. We’ve got dates below. Read the rest of this entry »

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